Building Great Teams Through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

September 8, 2021 | AUVSI News

Diverse and inclusive teams lead to better outcomes and successes for all. At a workshop at XPONENTIAL 2021 titled, “How to Build Great Teams Through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” Eric Schwartz, Manager of Technology & Innovation at FPLAir shared takeaways from Florida Power & Light Company’s success in fostering an inclusive work environment. NextEra Energy, FPL’s parent company, has been recognized for its strong support for diversity, including being named to Forbes Magazine’s list of “America’s Best Employers for Diversity” and recognized by Winds of Change Magazine as one of the “Top 50 Workplaces for Indigenous STEM Professionals.” AUVSI connected with Michelle Landery, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at NextEra Energy to learn more. 

Corporate programs based on DE&I values

NextEra Energy’s Executive Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Council advises and drives corporate D&I strategy and promotes diversity in talent development and recruiting. Similarly, the company’s Corporate D&I Council champions and drives business unit D&I strategies, including sharing best practices, sponsoring the annual D&I Summit and advising employee resource groups. NextEra’s Racial Equity Working Team focuses on three areas:

1. Hiring, retaining and promoting Black employees: Partnering with professional organizations to increase the pipeline of Black talent and implementing rotational development program and mentoring/sponsorship program for Black employees.

2. Programs that make a difference in Black communities: Supporting communities and youth outreach organizations

3. Supplier of diversity and venture investment: Committing to increasing investment in Black-owned businesses and venture capital and private equity funds that are focused on racial equity.

Support from every level of the organization

Landery shared that the involvement of NextEra Energy’s Chairman and CEO Jim Robo has made a big impact in DE&I efforts throughout the company. “Once Jim Robo made it clear it was a top company priority, our employees wanted to get involved in our grassroots programming,” Landery explained, adding that NextEra Energy employees are eager to make a difference in their communities and help attract the next generation of people who will work in the energy sector. “When you have both the top down and bottoms up support, it helps to permeate DE&I throughout the company’s culture.” 

Takeaways for other organizations

Landery acknowledged that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for building diverse, inclusive teams within any organization. Even companies that have been leading in this area for decades are still working to create better systems and processes. “Everybody has a journey – no one has it all figured out… it’s about the journey,” she said. For businesses still early in their journey, Landery stressed the importance of taking actions early to ensure that their workforce feels included, respected and heard. “You can’t do everything at the same time at the beginning of your journey,” she said. “So start small – pick two or three things that you will start with and decide how you will measure success. Once you have those embedded, you’ll be able to grow in the future.” She added that startups and newly-founded companies have an opportunity to shape the future. “Don’t be afraid if you don’t have a lot of dedicated resources. Make sure every leader knows that developing people is a critical part of their job. And once your team is hired, invest in keeping them.” To keep investing in diverse talent, Landery recommended companies establish a focused talent management strategy, including regular review meetings to help employees understand how they can grow their careers and take advantage of opportunities to learn new skills. Learn more about NextEra Energy’s DE&I initiatives and metrics in their 2020 Environmental, Social, and Governance report.